CURTAIN FALLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 232, 2 October 1939, Page 13

CURTAIN FALLS.

LEAGUE SEASON ENDS. PAKEHAS DEFEAT MAORIS. PHELAN SHIELD TO CITY. One of the most successful League seasons came .to a conclusion at Carlaw Park on Saturday, "\vlien there were two keenly-contested matches, Pakehas heating the Maori XIII., and City proving too good for Richmond in the Phelan Shield final. The "gate," which was for the injured ■players' fund, realised £150. Results were:— Pakehas 15, heat Maoris 12. , City 15, beat. Richmond 12. ; : HARD FOUGHT. Winner of the Plielan Shield for 1930 is the City senior Club, wliict beat Kictiiiiomi by 15 points to 12 in a liard-fought game in the curtain-raiser to the main game at Carlaw l'ark on Saturday. The game was willingly contested throughout, and City got the verdict us a result of i>rotiting from their opponents' mistakes and making the most of tlieni, and fasit raiding by both backs and forwards in the loose. Richmond, generally speaking, gave as much as | they received, and their forwards, In particular, worked with a will, but their team work just lacked the necessary jinesse. City opened the scoring with a penalty, and were never headed, although at the interval the teams were on level terms, 7 points all. Indeed, it was a fortuitous try t'hut pulled Kiclunond up in the lirst spell, Graham gathering the ball when retiring off-side, to stroll across the line and "be awarded a try, which was converted. There were ninny who disputed that try, but, as matters turned out, it made no difference to the result. One of the highlights of the match was a line run of 35 yards by Smith, Citj-'s centre, with members of the opposition in hot pursuit. Smith linished oil" a grand run with a try, and in addition l he contributed penalty goal and two conversions to his sides's total. Indeed, he was one of the best players on the ground, aaid a continual thorn in the Hide of liichmond. Hughes, lirst livc-cuglitlis mud Silva outside him also showed enterprise on attack, and defended »souudly, While Could was well in the picture on the wing. City forwards never let up from the word go, and men who were always going great guns were Welmer, Magee, -Vtrey and Thompson. Hard workers in the Kichmond pack were McLeod, Devine, Davis, Broadliead and liadley, with Devine showing line appreciation of teaming in with his backs. The Kichmond backs changed positions too frequently ever to settle down properly, but nuvi who gave guod service were Williams at live-eighths, Graham at centre and wing, and Braniley, on the wing and at full-back. Scorers for blie winners in addition to Smith were Thompson and Hughes, while for Ilicliniond tries were scored by Graham and Devine, Takle kicked a penalty gonl and converted one try and Webb converted a try. LOST CHANCES. Although neither the Maori nor Pakeha I team were up to full representative strength, some of the best players In Auckland took the Held, but the match, although bright at times, did not fully realise expectations, and' the inability of either set of inside backs to combine well *in attack largely • robbi.'d the display of spectacular touches. There was little combination in the Maori team's display, and they I started and linished with the handicap of ; not having a scrum half. In the last minute of the game there were some lost chances for the Maoris when they were hammering at the Pakelia's line ami dropped passes at critical moments made all the difference. For the Maori team Hansen took the job of half-back on and did his best, but the position was strange to him. Apart from Donaldson, who has played consistently through the season, and the veteran Nepia at full-back, none of the Maori backs were impressive. Nepia was extremely sound and his resolute, tackling saved his side on several occasions. 35 rod rick was outstanding in the Maori forwards and tried hard in the late stages of the game to infuse dash into the play. Watene played solidly all the way. Deinpsey played attractively at full-back for Pakehas. Hardgrave, on the wing, disclosed speed and cleverness when the ball occasionally came his way, while Walker gave one of his best displays at half-back. Although Cato and Cranch could not blend as live-eighths, the former showed a nice eye for an opening and landed an excellent snap Held goal. The most impressive of the Pakeha forwards were Gunning, Shndbolt and Peterj sen, all showing pace and initiative in • open play and endeavour to' get the I Pakeha side going on team-play lines. For Pakehas tries were scored by I Cranch, Herring and Nurse. Herring and | Dempsey each converted one, and Cato I kicked a field goal. j The Maoris' tries were scored by Watene l and Donaldson. Donaldson converted one and kicked a penalty goal; Nepla also kicked a penalty goal. j SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES. ; Players selected to practise for the Rugby i League schoolboy representatives:— i Seniors.—Wright, Barbtiu. Speedy (Ota- ! huhu). Davidson, h'-unnich, Froggatt (Mount ! Albert), Moyle, Walker. MeGrath, McI Namara (Newton), McCarthy, Morris (KieliJ niond), Scott (Shore), McLeod (L'llerslie), Lcpper (Northcote). Intermediates.—Francis, White (Ponsonb.v), Glenn, IJowden (IvUerslie), McCread.v (Newmarket), Walker (Point Chevalier). Pal (Manukau), Reilley (Green Lane), Pc Lacy (Mount Albert). Miller (Shore), Purvin (St. Patrick's). Baylcy (Avondalc). •Stackpolc (Newton), Dodds, Heavy (Kichmond) .